Ask Motorists

What is the difference between Parallel Importer and Authorized Agent?

1
Answer

Authorised Distributors (AD) are companies that have won exclusive distribution rights for a particular car brand from the manufacturer of the vehicle. For example, the authorised distributor for Nissan cars is Tan Chong Motors, and that for Toyota cars is Borneo Motors.

Parallel Importers (PI) purchase directly from the factories producing the vehicles and then import them to Singapore. Parallel importing of cars is perfectly legal. Parallel importers do not have any limitation on the brand of vehicles they can retail, unlike authorised distributors who can only sell the make of vehicle they are representing. The addition of parallel importers give consumers more choices and promotes competition.